Print control device and print control method

ABSTRACT

A print control apparatus which makes a search of print data easy includes a storage unit, a display unit, and a control unit that adds attribute information to the print data. The print control apparatus; generates an attributed print job, writes it into the storage unit, arranges and displays, based on an operation by a user, each job name of the attributed print data stored in the storage unit in an order according to the attribute information included in the attributed print data.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a print control apparatus included in,for example, a printer and especially to a print control apparatus thatstores print data obtained from a host computer and executes printingusing the print data without obtaining the print data again.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a printer includes a printer engine that performs printingbased on print data and a print control apparatus that controls theprinter engine. (To be precise, controllers other than above mentionedare also included.)

Also, a print control apparatus having a large capacity memory has beenconventionally proposed (e.g. refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patentapplication No. 05-27929, Japanese Laid-Open Patent application No.09-240070 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent application No. 11-191041).

A print control apparatus having a large capacity memory as describedobtains, from an outside host computer and the like, print dataindicating sentences and figures to be printed, and stores the printdata in the large capacity memory, while it allows a printer engine toexecute printing by which contents indicated by the print data areprinted.

The print control apparatus can hereby reprint the print contents suchas sentences and figures that have been printed in advance, using theprint data stored in the large capacity memory. In other words, when auser reprints the previously printed contents, the user does not need anoperation of transmitting, from a host computer to the printer, theprint data that indicates the print contents. Therefore, the printer caneasily perform printing in a short time.

Here, the conventional print control apparatus includes, besides thelarge capacity memory, a display unit for displaying operation contents,setting contents and the like, an operation unit having an operationbutton used by a user and a control unit for controlling the displayunit and the large capacity memory.

The control unit allows the display unit to display job names indicatingeach print data stored in the large capacity memory in a list format. Ifthe user operates the operation unit and selects a desired job name fromthe list displayed on the display unit when such list is displayed, theoperation unit notifies the control unit of the selected job name. Notethat the job name is a print processing name for the print data.

The control unit then reads out the print data corresponding to thenotified job name from the large capacity memory and allows the printerengine to print the print contents indicated in the print data.

Additionally, the display area in the print control apparatus, ingeneral, is relatively small and the number of letters displayed islimited, so that it cannot display a whole list of job names if theamount of held print data is large. In that case, a method fordisplaying job names in sequence according to an operation by a scrollbutton and the like in the operation unit is used to solve the problem.Also, the display unit displays the list by each part according only toa predetermined order. That is, the control unit assigns a number toeach print data for managing the each print data stored in a largecapacity memory and allows the display unit to display the list in anorder according to the management numbers.

However, in the conventional print control apparatus, the list of jobnames is displayed to the display unit according to the order formanaging each print data. Therefore, in the case where a large amount ofprint data is stored in the large capacity memory, it takes time for auser to find a desired job name in the list. In other words, it takestime for the user to find the desired print data among the print datastored in the large capacity memory so that there is a problem ofunusability.

Accordingly, the present invention is available to solve the abovementioned problem and it is an object of the present invention toprovide a print control apparatus and a print control method withincreased convenience by making retrieval of stored print data easy andfast.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In order to achieve the above objective, the print control apparatusthat controls a printer engine which prints data contents based on printdata indicating the contents to be printed, comprising: a datageneration unit operable to i) obtain the print data from outside theprint control apparatus and ii) generate print data with an attribute byadding, to the print data, attribute information indicating theattribute of the print data; a storage unit having a region for storingthe print data with the attribute; a writing unit operable to write,into the storage unit, the print data with the attribute generated bythe data generation unit; an arrangement display unit operable toarrange and display, based on an operation by a user, each printprocessing name of a plurality of print data with the attribute storedin the storage unit in an order according to the attribute informationincluded in each of the plurality of print data with the attribute; anda print execution unit operable to allow the user to select one of theprint processing names displayed on the arrangement display unit, andcause the printer engine to execute printing based on the print datacorresponding to the selected print processing name. For example, thedata generation unit i) generates attribute information using, as anattribute of the print data, an order in which the print data with theattribute generated from the print data is written into the storage unitby the writing unit, and ii) adds the generated attribute information tothe print data.

Accordingly, each of the plurality of print data is stored as the printdata with attribute which the attribute is attached and displayed byarranging a print processing name for said each print data with theattribute in an order according to the attribute information. Therefore,the user can easily and quickly find the print data stored in the printcontrol apparatus by the operation and cause the print control apparatusto execute printing based on the print data. As the result, a usabilityof the print control apparatus can be improved.

Here, the arrangement display unit may further select and display aprint processing name corresponding to the attribute informationspecified by the user among the print processing names arranged in theorder according to the attribute information.

Consequently, according to a specification of the attribute informationby the user, only the print processing name corresponding to thespecified attribute information is displayed so that the user can findthe print data stored in the print control apparatus further easily.

Note that, the present invention can be realized as a print controlmethod for the print control apparatus, a program for causing a computerto execute the method, a recording medium which holds the program, andas a print control apparatus including the print control apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a printsystem in embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a printerof the above mentioned.

FIG. 3 is a data contents display diagram indicating data contents of anattributed print job stored in a storage unit of the above mentioned.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart indicating an operation by a control unit towrite the attributed print job into the storage unit of the abovementioned.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart indicating a detailed operation by the controlunit generates attribute information indicating a writing order of theabove mentioned.

FIG. 6 is an illustration for explaining an operation to a user I/F unitof the printer of the above mentioned.

FIG. 7 is a data contents display diagram indicating contents includedrespectively in a list data and an attributed ordered list data of theabove mentioned.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart indicating an operation by the control unit togenerate the attribute ordered list data of the above mentioned.

FIG. 9 is a screen example diagram showing an example of a screendisplayed to a display unit of the user I/F unit of the above mentioned.

FIG. 10 is an illustration for explaining screen displays of the displayunit of the above mentioned when a refinement is performed.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart indicating a detailed operation by the controlunit 101 to generate attribute information indicating the number ofpages according to a variation 1 of the above mentioned.

FIG. 12 is a data content display diagram indicating contents includedrespectively in a list data and an attribute ordered list data accordingto the variation 1 of the above mentioned.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart indicating an operation by the control unit toreadout print data according to a variation 2 of the above mentioned.

FIG. 14 is a data content display diagram indicating contents includedrespectively in a list data and an attribute ordered list data accordingto the variation 2 of the above mentioned.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart indicating an operation by the control unit toreadout print data according to a variation 3 of the above mentioned.

FIG. 16 is a data content display diagram indicating contents includedrespectively in a list data and an attribute ordered list data accordingto the variation 3 of the above mentioned.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart indicating a detailed operation by the controlunit 101 to generate attribute information indicating an identifieraccording to a variation 4 of the above mentioned.

FIG. 18 is a data contents display diagram indicating contents includedrespectively in a list data and an attribute ordered list data accordingto the variation 4 of the above mentioned.

FIG. 19 is an illustration for explaining screen displays of a displayunit when a refinement is performed according to the variation 4 of theabove mentioned.

FIG. 20 is an illustration for explaining a display method for a displayunit to display a job name according to a variation 5 of the abovementioned.

FIG. 21 is an example diagram showing an example that the display unitdisplays by assigning an identification number to a job name accordingto the variation 5 of the above mentioned.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereafter, a print control apparatus in an embodiment of the presentinvention is explained with reference to figures.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a printsystem according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The printing system includes a host computer 400 which generates andoutputs print data 401 indicating print contents such as sentences andfigures, and a printer 300 which obtains the print data 401 from thehost computer 400 and prints the print contents indicated in the printdata 401.

The host computer 400 displays, when it outputs the print data 401 tothe printer 300, in advance, a memory inquiry screen for inquiring auser about whether or not the print data 401 should be stored in theprinter 300. The host computer 400 then outputs, when it receives aninstruction by the user's operation to store the print data 401 into theprinter 300, to the printer 300, a memory execution signal indicatingthe contents of the instruction together with the print data 401.

The printer 300 includes a printer engine 200 to perform printing basedon the print data 401 and a print control apparatus 100 to control theprinter engine 200.

The printer 300 according to the present embodiment has a so-calledmemory print function and stores the print data 401 used for printing.Having such memory print function, the printer 300 executes printing ina short time, omitting time required for data transmission andexpansion.

The print control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment,when it receives print data 401 and the memory execution signal from thehost computer 400, outputs the print data 401 to the printer engine 200,allows the printer engine 200 to print the print contents in the printdata 401 and generates an attributed print job 104 a by adding attributeinformation indicating an attribute of the print data 401 to the printdata 401. The print control apparatus 100 then stores the attributedprint job 104 a so that it can quickly perform printing based on theprint data 401 again. Here, the attributed print job 104 a is theattributed print data that are the print data 401 to which the attributeinformation is added.

Additionally, the print control apparatus 100 allows, when it obtainsonly the print data 401 and doest not obtain the memory execution signalfrom the host computer 400, the printer engine 200 to execute printingbased on the print data 401 without generating and storing theattributed print job 104 a.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of theprinter 300.

The print control apparatus 100 of the printer 300 includes a controlunit 101 composed of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and the like, aRead Only Memory (ROM) 102 that stores, in advance, a program for printcontrol to be executed by the control unit 101, a Random Access Memory(RAM) 103 where the control unit 101 temporarily records data and readsout the data, a storage unit 104 having an area for storing theattributed print job 104 a, a user I/F unit 105 that interfaces betweenthe user and the control unit 101, and an I/F unit 106 that interfacesbetween an apparatus outside the print control apparatus 100 and thecontrol unit 101.

The user I/F unit 105 has a display unit 105 a with, for example, aliquid crystal display screen on which operation contents and settingcontents of the printer 300 are displayed, and an operation unit 105 bwith an operation button and the like operated by the user.

The display range of the display unit 105 a is, for example,horizontally 20 letters and vertically 3 letters. Here, the displayrange may be horizontally 16 letters or vertically 1 letter or 2 lettersand the display unit 105 a may be configured with a bitmap display.Further, when the number of letters to be displayed on the display unit105 a is larger than the display range, these letters arescroll-displayed by an operation of the operation unit 105 b.

The storage unit 104 is a large capacity memory that can storerelatively large capacity of information and is configured with a harddisk drive, a non-volatile semiconductor memory and the like. Note that,the storage unit 105 may be configured with a drive including a DVD, aCD and a MO.

The control unit 101 according to the present embodiment generates anattributed print job 104 a by adding attribute information to the printdata 401 and stores it into the storage unit 104 in response to aninstruction from the host computer 400. At the same time, in response toan operation by the operation unit 105 b, the control unit 101 alsoallows the display unit 105 a to display a job name of each print data401 in an order based on the attribute information and allows thedisplay unit 105 a to display only the job names corresponding topredetermined attribute information. Here, the job name is a printprocessing name for the print data 401 and is included previously in theprint data 401 outputted from the host computer 400.

First, a processing operation that the control unit 101 generates anattributed print job 104 a and allows the storage unit 104 to store theattributed print job 104 a is explained in detail.

The control unit 101 obtains the print data 401 and the memory executionsignal from the host computer 400 via the I/F unit 106, then outputs theprint data 401 to the printer engine 200 via the I/F unit 106 and allowsthe printer engine 200 to print based on the print data 401. The controlunit 101 also generates the attributed print job 104 a by adding theattribute information to the print data 401 and stores the generatedattributed print job 104 a into the storage unit 104. Also, when thecontrol unit 101 obtains only the print data 401 and does not obtain thememory execution signal from the host computer 400 via the I/F unit 106,the control unit allows the printer engine 200 to execute only theprinting. Further, the control unit 101 assigns a job number to eachattributed print job 104 a to manage each attributed print job 104 astored in the storage unit 104.

Here, when generating the attribute information, the control unit 101considers the order of writing the attributed print job 104 a generatedbased on the print data 401 into the storage unit 104 (the writingorder) as an attribute of the print data 401 and generates attributeinformation indicating the writing order.

FIG. 3 is a data contents display diagram showing the attributed printjobs 104 a stored in the storage unit 104.

An attributed print job 104 a includes a job number, attributeinformation and print data 401. For example, the attributed print job104 a includes “1” indicating the job number, “1” indicating the writingorder as the attribute information and the print data 401 including thejob name “BBA”.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation by the control unit 101 towrite an attributed print job 104 a into the storage unit 104.

First, the control unit 101 obtains the print data 401 from the hostcomputer 400 via the I/F unit 106 (Step S100). When the control unit 101that has obtained print data 401 writes the attributed print job 104 abased on the print data 401 into the storage unit 104, the control unit101 identifies the writing order and generates the attribute informationindicating the identified writing order (Step S102).

Next, the control unit 101 adds the attribute information generated atStep S102 to the obtained print data 401 and generates the attributedprint job 104 a (Step S104). The control unit 101 then writes thegenerated attributed print job 104 a into the storage unit 104 (StepS106).

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a detailed operation by the control unit101 to generate the attribute information indicating the writing order.

First, the control unit 101 obtains the number of times N when thewriting operations were performed before, for example, from RAM103(S110).

Following that, the control unit 101 adds one to the number of obtainedtimes N, updates the number of times N and stores the updated number oftimes N to RAM103 (Step S112).

Then, the control unit 101 considers the number of times N updated atStep S112 as the above-described writing order and generates theattribute information indicating the writing order (Step S114).

Next, it is explained in detail about a processing operation by thecontrol unit 101 to allow the display unit 105 a to display job names ofthe print data 401 stored in the storage unit 10.

The control unit 101 in the present embodiment allows the display unit105 a to display the job name of each attributed print job 104 a storedin the storage unit 104 in the order of the job numbers or allows thedisplay unit 105 a to display the job name of each attributed print job104 a in the writing order, corresponding to a signal from the operationunit 105 b.

In other words, when-the user operates the operation unit 105 b todisplay job names of the print data 401 stored in the printer 300 in adefault order, the job names are displayed in the order of the jobnumbers. Further, when the user operates the operation unit 105 b todisplay job names in an order corresponding to the attributeinformation, namely, in the writing order, the job names are displayedin the writing order.

FIG. 6 is an illustration for explaining an operation to the user I/Funit 105 of the printer 300.

When the user wants to display, on the display unit 105 a, job names ofthe print data 401 stored in the printer 300, the user operates a menubutton btn1 in the operation unit 105 b. Hereby, “List Data Display”,“List Data in Order of Attribute Display” and the like are displayed asa menu on the display unit 105 a. Here, when the user tries to displaythe job names of the print data 401 in the default order, the useroperates arrow buttons of btn2 and btn3 to reverse-display “List DataDisplay” and operates the execution button btn4 in the state.Consequently, the job names are displayed in ascending order of the jobnumbers. Also, when the user tries to display the job names of the printdata 401 in the writing order, the user operates the arrow buttons ofbtn2 and btn3 to reverse-display “List Data in Order of AttributeDisplay” and operates the execution button btn4 in the state. Thereby,the job names are displayed in the writing order on the display unit 105a.

Specifically, when the execution button btn4 is operated in the statethat “List Data Display” is reverse-displayed, the operation unit 105 boutputs, to the control unit 101, a list display instruction signal thatinstructs to display a list of the job names of each attributed printjob 104 a stored in the storage unit 104 in the order of job numbers.Also, when the execution button btn4 is operated in the sate that “ListData in Order of Attribute Display” is reverse-displayed, the operationunit 105 b outputs, to the control unit 101, an attribution orderinstruction signal that instructs to display the list of job names ofeach attributed print job 104 a stored in the storage unit 104 in thewriting order.

The control unit 101 obtains a list display instruction signal from theoperation unit 105 b and generates list data indicating a list of jobnames arranged in ascending order of job numbers. That is, the controlunit 101 reads out the job number, the writing order that is thecontents of the attribute information and the job name from eachattributed print job 104 a stored in the storage unit 104. Then, thecontrol unit 101 generates the list data by arranging, in ascendingorder of the job numbers, the job number, the writing order and the jobname for each readout attributed print job 104 a. The control unit 101,which has generated-the list data, outputs the list data to the displayunit 105 a and allows the display unit 105 a to display each job name inorder of the arrangement.

Further, the control unit 101 generates attribute ordered list dataindicating a list of job names arranged in the writing order when itreceives the attribution order instruction signal from the operationunit 105 b. That is, the control unit 101 obtains the attribution signaland reads out the job number, the writing order that is the contents ofthe attribute information and the job name from each attributed printjob 104 a. Then, the control unit 101 generates the attribute orderedlist data by arranging, in the writing order, the job number, thewriting order and the job name for each readout attributed print job 104a. The control unit 101, which has generated list data in order of theattribution, outputs the attribution ordered list data to the displayunit 105 a and allows the display unit 105 a to display each job namearranged in the order of the arrangement.

FIG. 7 is a data content display diagram indicating contents includedrespectively in the list data and the attribution ordered list data.

The list data dt1 has a job number column A1 in which job numbers arestored, a writing order column A2 in which a writing orders are storedand a job name column A3 in which job names are stored.

The control unit 101 stores the job numbers readout from the storageunit 104 into the job number column A1 by arranging in ascending orderfrom the top. At the same time, it stores, into the writing column A2,the writing order that is the attribute information readout from thestorage unit 104 by associating with the corresponding job number. Also,it stores, in the job name column A3, the job name readout from thestorage unit 104 by associating with the corresponding job number.

The attribution ordered list data dt2 has, similar to the list data dt1,a job number column A4 in which job numbers are stored, a writing ordercolumn A5 in which the writing order are stored and a job name column A6in which job names are stored.

The control unit 101 arranges, in writing order, a set of a job number,a writing order that is attribute information and a job name for eachattributed print job 104 a readout from the storage unit 104. Then, inorder of the arrangement, the control unit 101 stores each job numberinto the job number column A4, each writing order into the writing ordercolumn A5 and each job name into the job name column A6.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an operation by the control unit 101 togenerate the attribute ordered list data dt2.

First, the control unit 101 initializes a count number n of an insidecounter to 1 (Step S120) and judges whether or not an attributed printjob 104 a including the job number equal to the count number n is storedin the storage unit 104 (Step S122).

Here, when the control unit 101 judges that the attributed print job 104a is stored in the storage unit 104 (Y at Step S122), the control unit101 reads out the writing order that is the attribute information fromthe attributed print job 104 a (Step S124). Further, the control unit101 reads out the job name from the attributed print job 104 a (StepS126).

Next, the control unit 101 adds 1 to the count number n of the insidecounter and updates it (Step S128) and repeats the operations from StepS122.

In addition, when the control unit 101 judges that the attributed printjob 104 a is not stored in the storage unit 104 (N at Step S122), itgenerates the attribute ordered list data dt2 by arranging, in ascendingorder of the writing order, a set of i) the writing order that is theattribute information of the attributed print job 104 a readout at Step124, ii) the job name readout at Step 126 and iii) the job number (StepS130).

FIG. 9 is a screen example diagram showing an example of a screendisplayed on the display unit 105 a of the user I/F unit 105.

The display unit 105 a obtains the attribute ordered list data dt2 fromthe control unit 101 and displays job numbers, writing orders and jobnames stored in the attribute ordered list data dt2 in sequence from thetop. Here, even if the display range of the display unit 105 a is smalland all the sets of a job number, a writing order and a job name storedin the attribute ordered list data dt2 are not displayed at once, thedisplay unit 105 a can display all by scrolling each set stored in theattribute ordered list data dt2 in an arrangement order corresponding toa signal from the operation unit 105 a based on operations by the arrowbuttons of btn2 and btn3.

Here, when the user has a writing order “2” and a job name “CCA”, forexample, reverse-displayed by pushing down the arrow buttons of btn 2and btn 3 and pushes down the execution button btn4 of the operationunit 105 b, the control unit 101, responding to the output signal fromthe operation unit 105 b, searches the attributed print job 104 a havingthe writing order “2” and the job name “CCA” in the storage unit 104.

When the control unit 101 finds the attributed print job 104 a, it thenreads out the print data 401 included therein and outputs the readoutprint data 401 to the printer engine 200 via the I/F unit 106 and allowsthe printer engine 200 to print the print contents included in the printdata 401.

As is described, in the present embodiment, the job names of all printdata 401 stored in the storage unit 104 are displayed on the displayunit 105 a not only by being arranged in an order set to the default butalso by being arranged in the writing order in response to an operationfrom a user. Therefore, the user can easily find the print data 401stored in the printer 300 by looking at the display unit 105 a andallows the printer 300 to execute the printing rapidly based on theprint data 401. In other words, in the present embodiment, the job namesare displayed in order according to user's expectations so that theoperability can be remarkably improved.

For example, when the user tries to execute printing based on the printdata 401 with a job name “AAD”, if the user displays the screen shown inFIG. 6 on the display unit 105 a and selects “List Data Display”, thelist data dtn1 shown in FIG. 7 is generated by the control unit 101 andjob names are displayed on the display unit 105 a in order of jobnumbers. Therefore, the user has to push down the arrow button dtn2 fivetimes to find the job name “AAD”. However, when the user displays thescreen shown in FIG. 6 on the display unit 105 a and selects “AttributeOrdered List Data Display”, the attribute ordered list data dtn2 shownin FIG. 7 is generated by the control unit 101 and the job names aredisplayed in the writing order on the display unit 105 a. Consequently,the user can push down the arrow button dtn2 only twice to find the jobname “AAD”. As a result, the printer 300 can execute the printingquickly based on the print data 401 with the job name “AAD”.

Next, it explains about a processing operation for displaying, on thedisplay unit 105 a, job names of the print data 401 stored in thestorage unit 104 by limiting to those corresponding to predeterminedattribute information.

If the menu button btn1 of the operation unit 105 b is operated whilethe display unit 105 a is displaying a list of job names shown in FIG.9, the control unit 101, based on the output signal from the operationunit 105 b, displays, on the display unit 105 a, a search refinementinquiry screen which inquires about whether or not search refinement fordisplaying the attribute ordered list data dt2 is performed. Then, whenthe user inputs an instruction to execute the search refinement to theoperation unit 105 b, the control unit 101 allows the display unit 105 ato display only the job names corresponding to a predetermined writingorder.

FIG. 10 is an illustration for explaining screen displays of the displayunit 101 a when the search refinement is performed.

First, based on the output signal from the operation unit 105 b, thecontrol unit 101 displays the refinement inquiry screen as shown in FIG.10( a). Here, the user operates the arrow buttons btn2 and btn3 toreverse-display “Yes” and the control unit 101 displays, as shown inFIG. 10( b), an input screen for inputting a range of the writing orderon the display unit 105 a by operating the execution button btn4.Herein, the user inputs contents to instruct to display the job namescorresponding to “5˜6” in the writing order by operating the arrowbuttons btn2 and btn3 of the operation unit 105 b and, by operating theexecution button btn4, the control unit 101 displays the job namescorresponding to the above-mentioned writing order as shown in FIG. 10(c). Additionally, the control unit 101 herein displays the job names inthe writing order so as to display the job name with the writing order“5” earlier than the job name with the writing order “6”.

As is described, in the present embodiment, since job names of the printdata 401 stored in the storage unit 104 are displayed by limiting tothose corresponding to the writing order specified by a user, the usercan find the print data 401 stored in the printer 300 more easily bylooking at the display unit 105 a and allows the printer 300 to executequickly the printing based on the print data 401.

(Variation 1)

Here, the variation 1 concerning attribute information is explained.

The control unit 101 according to the present variation determines thenumber of required pages (number of pages) in the case where the printerengine 200 executes the printing based on the print data 401 as anattribute of the print data 401.

That is, in a generation of the attribute information at Step S102 shownin FIG. 4, the control unit 101 executes a procedure of generating theattribute information with the number of pages shown in FIG. 11 insteadof executing a procedure generating the attribute information in thewriting order shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a detailed operation by the control unit101 that generates attribute information indicating the page number.

First, the control unit 101 starts obtaining the print data 401 andinitializes a count number Np of a built-in page number counter to 1(Step S140).

Next, the control unit 101 judges whether or not the number of pagesmore than the count number Np is required when the printing based on theprint data 401 is executed, that is, it judges whether or not there areinformation in the print data for more than the Np pages (Step S142).

Here, the control unit 101 updates the count number Np by adding 1 tothe count number Np (Step S144) when it is judged that there are anumber of pages more than the count number Np (Y at Step S142). Also,the control unit 101 generates attribute information with the countnumber Np as the number of pages (Step S146) when it is judged thatthere are not as many information as the number of the Np page (N atStep S142).

In the operation process, the control unit 101 specifies the number ofpages corresponding to one print data 401 after obtaining all of theprint data 401, and generates attribute information indicating thecontents of the page number. However, the control unit 101 may generatethe attribute information before obtaining all pieces of the print data401. In other words, the control unit 101 writes attribute informationindicating predetermined page numbers into the storage unit 104 when itstarts obtaining the print data 401, and it also writes, as obtainingthe print data 401 partially, the part in sequence into the storage unit104 and generates an attributed print job 104 a. Then, the control unit101 updates the attribute. Accordingly, the writing operation into thestorage unit 104 can be quickly performed.

Also, the control unit 101 in the variation, in response to the signalfrom the operation unit 105 b, allows the display unit 105 a to displaya job name of each attributed print job 104 a stored in the storage unit104 in order of job numbers, or allows the display unit 105 a to displaythe job name of each attributed print job 104 a in order of pagenumbers.

In specific, the control unit 101 obtains the list display instructionsignal from the operation unit 105 b and reads out a job number, a pagenumber which is the content of the attribute information, and a job namerespectively from each attributed print job 104 a stored in the storageunit 104. Then, the control unit 101 generates list data by arrangingthe job number and the job name for each readout attributed print job104 a in order of job numbers. The control unit 101 which generated thelist data outputs the list data to the display unit 105 a and allows thedisplay unit 105 a to display each job name in order of job numbers.

Further, the control unit 101 obtains the attribute ordered instructionsignal from the operation unit 105 b and reads out the job number, thepage number which is the content of the attribute information, and thejob name respectively from each attributed print job 104 a stored in thestorage unit 104. Then, the control unit 101 generates attribute orderedlist data by arranging the job number, the page number and the job namefor each readout attributed print job 104 a in a descending order ofpage numbers. The control unit 101 which generates the attribute orderedlist data outputs the attributed ordered list data to the display unit105 a and allows the display unit 105 a to display each job name in thedescending order of the page numbers.

FIG. 12 is a data content display diagram showing the contents includedrespectively in the list data of the present variation and in theattribute ordered list data.

A list data dt11 has a job number column B1 in which job numbers arestored, a page number column B2 in which page numbers are stored, and ajob name column B3 in which job names are stored.

The control unit 101 i) stores, into the job number column B1, the jobnumbers readout from the storage unit 104 by arranging them in anascending order of the job numbers starting from the top, ii) stores,into the page number column B2, the page number, which is the attributeinformation readout from the storage unit 104, by associating with thecorresponding job number, and iii) stores, into the job name column B3,the job name readout from the storage unit 104 by associating with thecorresponding job number.

An attribute ordered list data dt12, similar to the list data dt11, hasa job number column B4 in which job numbers are stored, a page numbercolumn B5 in which page numbers are stored, and a job name column B6 inwhich job names are stored.

The control unit 101 arranges a set of a job number for each attributedprint job 104 a readout from the storage unit 104, a page number whichis the attribute information and the job name in a descending order ofthe page numbers. The control unit 101 then stores, in the arrangementorder, each job number into the job number column B4, each page numberinto the page number column B5, and each job name into the job namecolumn B6.

Accordingly, also in the present variation, all of the job names of theprint data 401 stored in the storage unit 104 are not only displayed onthe display unit 105 a by being arranged in an order set by default, butalso displayed on the display unit 105 a by being displayed in adescending order of the page numbers in response to an operation by auser. Therefore, the user can easily find the print data 401 stored inthe printer 300 by looking at the display unit 105 a so that the usercan cause the printer 300 to execute printing quickly based on the printdata 401.

For example, when the user tries to execute printing based on the printdata 401 whose job name is “DDA”, if the screen shown in FIG. 6 isdisplayed on the display unit 105 a and the “list data display” isselected, the list data dt11 shown in FIG. 12 is generated and job namesare displayed, on the display unit 105 a, in order of the job numbers.Therefore, the user cannot find the job name “DDA” unless the userpushes an arrow button btn2 of the operation unit 105 b seven times.However, if the user selects the “attribute ordered list data display”by allowing the display unit 105 a to display the screen shown in FIG.6, the attribute ordered list data dt12 shown in FIG. 12 is generated bythe control unit 101 and the job names are displayed to the display unit105 a in a descending order of the page numbers. Therefore, the user canfind the job name “DDA” only by pushing the arrow button btn2 of theoperation unit 105 b once. Consequently, the printer 300 can quicklyexecute the printing based on the print data 401 whose job name is“DDA”.

Also, the control unit 101 in the present variation, similar to what isexplained in FIG. 10, allows the display unit 105 a to display job namesof the print data 401 stored in the storage unit 104 by limiting only tojob names which correspond to a predetermined attribute information.That is, the control unit 101 in the present variation allows thedisplay unit 105 a to display only job names corresponding to pagenumbers inputted to the operation unit 105 b. Here, in the case wherethe page numbers inputted to the operation unit 105 b has, for example,a range from 1 to 3 pages and there is a plurality of job namescorresponding to the page numbers, the control unit 101 allows it todisplay the job names in a descending order of the page numbers.Further, in the case where there is a plurality of job namescorresponding to the same page number, the control unit 101 allows it todisplay the job names in an ascending order of the job numbers.

Accordingly, also in the present variation, in response to the operationby the user, the job names of the print data 401 stored in the storageunit 104 are displayed to the display unit 105 a by limiting only to thejob names which correspond to the page numbers specified by the user.Therefore, the user can more easily find the print data 401 stored inthe printer 300 by looking at the display unit 105 a and the user canallow the printer 300 to execute quickly a printing based on the printdata 401.

(Variation 2)

Here, the variation 2 concerning attribute information is explained.

The control unit 101 in the present variation determines the number oftimes when the print data 401 is readout from the storage unit 104 ofthe print data 401 as an attribute.

That is, the control unit 101, in a process of generating attributeinformation at the step S102 shown in FIG. 4, generates the attributeinformation whose details indicate that the number of readout times is 0instead of executing the procedure of generating the attributeinformation in the order of writing shown in FIG. 5. The control unit101 then updates, as the print data 401 included in the attributed printjob 104 a stored in the storage unit 104 is readout, the number ofreading out times which is the attribute information including in theattributed print job 104 a.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart indicating the operation by the control unit 101to readout the print data 401.

When the user operates the operation unit 105 b to execute printingbased on the print data 401 stored in the printer 300, the operationunit 105 b outputs, to the control unit 101, a print execution signalfor instructing to execute the printing based on the print data 401.

In here, the control unit 101 obtains the print execution signal (StepS150) and reads out the attribute information of the print data 401corresponding to the print execution signal, that is, the readout timesNr from the storage unit 104 (Step S152). The control unit 101 thenupdates the readout times Nr by adding one to the readout times Nr (StepS154), and writes the updated readout times Nr into the attributed printjob 104 a in the storage unit 104 (Step S156).

After writing the readout times Nr, the control unit 101 reads out theprint data 401 (Step S158), outputs the readout data to the printerengine 200 via the I/F unit 106, and allows the printer engine 200 toprint the print contents included in the print data 401 (Step S160).

Here, the control unit 101 updates the readout times Nr by adding one atstep S154. However, the control unit 101 may update it by adding numbersother than one, or may update by other processes.

Also, the control unit 101 in the present variation, according to asignal outputted from the operation unit 105 b, allows the display unit105 a to display the job name of each attributed print job 104 a storedin the storage unit 104 in order of the job numbers, and allows thedisplay unit 105 a to display the job names of each attributed print job104 a in a descending order of the number of readout times.

In specific, the control unit 101 obtains the list display instructionsignal from the operation unit 105 b and reads out the job name, thenumber of readout times which is a content of the attribute informationand the job name respectively from each attributed print job 104 astored in the storage unit 104. The control unit 101 then generates alist data by arranging the job number, the readout times and the jobname for each attributed readout print job 104 a in order of the jobnumbers. The control unit 101 which has generated the list data outputsthe list data to the display unit 105 a and allows the display unit 105a to display each job name in the arrangement order.

Further, the control unit 101 obtains the attribute ordered instructionsignal from the operation unit 105 b and reads out the job number andthe readout times that are contents of the attribute information, andthe job name respectively from each attributed print job 104 a stored inthe storage unit 104. The control unit 101 then generates an attributeordered list data by arranging the job number, the readout times and thejob name for each attributed print job 104 a in a descending order ofthe readout times. The control unit 101 which has generated theattribute ordered list data outputs the attribute ordered list data tothe display unit 105 a and allows the display unit 105 a to display eachjob name in the arrangement order.

FIG. 14 is a data content display diagram showing contents includedrespectively in the list data and the attribute ordered list data in thepresent variation.

A list data dt21 has a job number column C1 in which job numbers arestored, a readout times column C2 in which the number of the readouttimes is stored, and the job name column C3 in which job names arestored.

The control unit 101 i) stores, into the job number column C1, the jobnumbers readout from the storage unit 104 by arranging in an ascendingorder starting from the top, ii) stores, into the readout times columnC2, the number of readout times which is the attribute informationreadout from the storage unit 104 by associating with the correspondingjob numbers, and iii) stores, into the job name column C3, the job namesreadout from the storage unit 104 by associating with the correspondingjob numbers.

An attribute ordered list data dt22 has, similar to the list data dt21,a job number column C4 in which job numbers are stored, a readout timescolumn C5 in which the number of readout times are stored, and a jobname column C6 in which job names are stored.

The control unit 101 arranges a set of a job number for each attributedprint job 104 a readout from the storage unit 104, the number of readouttimes which is attribute information, and a job name in a descendingorder of the number of readout times. The control unit 101 then stores,in the arrangement order, each job number into the job number column C4,each number of readout times into the readout times column C5, and eachjob name into the job name column C6.

Accordingly, in the present variation, the job names of all pieces ofprint data 401 stored in the storage unit 104 are displayed, to thedisplay unit 105 a, not only by being arranged in a descending order ofthe readout times but also by being arranged in a descending order ofthe readout times in response to an operation from a user. Therefore,the user can easily find the print data 401 stored in a printer 300 bylooking at the display unit 105 a and can cause the printer 300 toquickly execute printing based on the print data 401.

For example, when the user tries to execute printing based on the printdata 401 whose job name is “AAC”, if the screen shown in FIG. 6 isdisplayed to the display unit 105 a and the “list data display” isselected, the list data dt21 shown in FIG. 14 is generated by thecontrol unit 101, and the job names are displayed, to the display unit105 a, in order of the job numbers. Therefore, the user cannot find thejob name “AAC” unless the user pushes the arrow button btn2 of theoperation unit 105 a four times. However, if the user selects the“attribute ordered list data display” by making the screen shown in FIG.6 display to the display unit 105 a, the attribute ordered list datadt22 shown in FIG. 14 is generated by the control unit 101 and job namesare displayed to the display unit 105 a in a descending order of thereadout times. Therefore, the user can find the job name “AAC” withoutpushing the arrow button of the operation unit 105 b even once. As theresult, the printer 300 can quickly execute printing based on the printdata 401 whose job name is “AAC”.

Also, in the present variation, the control unit 101, similar to what isexplained in FIG. 10, allows the display unit 105 a to display the jobnames of the print data 401 stored in the storage unit 104 by limitingonly to the job names corresponding to the predetermined attributeinformation. That is, the control unit 101 in the present variationallows the display unit 105 a to display only the job namescorresponding to the readout times inputted by a user to the operationunit 105 b. Here, in the case where the number of readout times inputtedby the operation unit 105 b has a range, for example, 2 to 4 times andthere is a plurality of job names corresponding to the readout times,the control unit 101 allows the display unit 105 a to display the jobnames in a descending order of the readout times. Further, in the casewhere there is a plurality of job names which corresponds to the samenumber of readout times, the control unit 101 allows it to display thejob names in an ascending order of the job names.

Thus, in the present variation, according to the operation by the user,the job names of the print data 401 stored in the storage unit 104 aredisplayed, to the display unit 105 a, by limiting only to the job nameswhich corresponds to the readout times designated by the user.Therefore, the user can more easily find the print data 401 stored inthe printer 300 by looking at the display unit 105 a and can quicklyexecute printing based on the print data 401 by the printer 300.

(Variation 3)

Here, the variation 3 concerning the attribute information is explained.

The control unit 101 in the present variation determines, as anattribute, an order in which the print data 401 is readout from thestorage unit 104 (readout order) of the print data 401.

That is, the control unit 101 generates, in the process of generatingattribute information at Step S102 shown in FIG. 4, the attributeinformation indicating that the readout order is 0, instead of executingthe procedure of generating the attribute information in order of thewriting shown in FIG. 5. The control unit 101 then updates the readoutorder which is the attribute information included in an attributed printjob 104 a every time when the print data 401 included in the attributedprint job 104 a stored in the storage unit 104 is read out.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart indicating an operation for the control unit 101to readout the print data 401.

When a user operates the operation unit 105 b to execute printing basedon the print data 401 stored in the printer 300, the operation unit 105b outputs, to the control unit 101, a print execution signal forinstructing to execute printing based on the print data 401.

Here, the control unit 101 obtains the print execution signal (StepS170) and specifies readout operation times Nt of the print data fromthe storage unit 104 which has been counted by then (Step S172). Thecontrol unit 101 then updates the readout operation times Nt by adding,in advance, one to the specified readout operation times Nt (Step S174),and writes over the attribute information of the attributed print job104 a of the storage unit 104 (Step S176) by defining the updatedreadout operation times Nt as the readout order of the print data 401.

After writing over the readout times (the readout operation times) Nt,the control unit 101 actually i) reads out the print data 401 (StepS178), ii) outputs the readout print data to the printer engine 200 viathe I/F unit 106, and iii) allows the printer engine 200 to print theprint contents included in the print data 401 (Step S180).

By the way, the control unit 101 updates the readout operation times Ntby adding one at Step S174. However, it may updates the readoutoperation times by adding a number other than one or by using otherprocesses.

Also, the control unit 101 in the present variation, according to asignal from the operation unit 105 b, allows the display unit 105 a todisplay job names of each print job 104 a stored in the storage unit 104in an order of the job numbers and allows the display unit 105 a todisplay job names of each attributed print job 104 a in a reserve orderof the readout order.

In specific, the control unit 101 obtains the list display signal fromthe operation unit 105 b and reads out the job number, the readout orderand the job name respectively from each attributed print job 104 astored in the storage unit 104. The control unit 101 then generates alist data by arranging the job number, the readout order and the jobname for the readout attributed print job 104 a in order of the jobnumbers. The control unit 101 which has generated the list data outputsthe list data to the display unit 105 a and allows the display unit 105a to display each job name in order of the arrangement.

Further, the control unit 101 obtains the attribute ordered instructionsignal from the operation unit 105 b and reads out the job number, thereadout order which is the content of the attribute information, and thejob name respectively from each attributed print job 104 a stored in thestorage unit 104. The control unit 101 then generates the attributeordered list data by arranging the job number, the readout order and thejob name for the readout attributed print job 104 a in a reverse readoutorder. The control unit 101 which has generated the attribute orderedlist data outputs the attribute ordered list data to the display unit105 a and allows the display unit 105 a to display each job name in thearrangement order.

FIG. 16 is a data content display diagram showing contents includedrespectively in the list data according to the present variation and inthe attribute ordered list data.

A list data dt31 has a job number column D1 in which job numbers arestored, a readout order column D2 in which readout orders are stored,and a job name column D3 in which job names are stored.

The control unit 101 i) stores, into the job number column D1, the jobnumbers readout from the storage unit 104 by arranging in an ascendingorder from the top, ii) stores, into the readout order column D2, thereadout orders which are the attribute information readout from thestorage unit 104 by associating with the corresponding job numbers, andiii) stores, into the job name column D3, the job names readout from thestorage unit 104 by associating with the corresponding job numbers.

An attribute ordered list data dt32 has, similar to the list data dt31,a job number column D4 in which job numbers are stored, a readoutordered column D5 in which readout orders are stored, and a job namecolumn D6 in which job names are stored.

The control unit 101 arranges, for each attributed print job 104 areadout from the storage unit 104, a set of the job number, a readoutorder which is attribute information, and a job name in a reversereadout order. The control unit 101 then stores, in the arrangementorder, each job number into the job number column D4, each readout orderinto the readout column D5, and each job name into the job name columnD6.

Accordingly, in the present variation, the job names of all print data401 stored in the storage unit 104 are displayed to the display unit 105a not only by being arranged in an order set by default, but also bybeing arranged in a reverse order of the readout order in response to anoperation by a user. Therefore, the user can easily find the print data401 stored in the printer 300 by looking at the display unit 105 a andallow the printer 300 to quickly execute printing based on the printdata 401.

For example, when the user tries to execute printing based on the printdata 401 whose job name is “BBB”, if the screen shown in FIG. 6 isdisplayed to the display unit 105 a and the “list data display” isselected, the list data dt31 shown in FIG. 16 is generated by thecontrol unit 105 a, and the job names are displayed, to the display unit105 a, in order of the job numbers. Therefore, the user cannot find thejob name “BBB” unless pushing the arrow button btn2 of the operationunit 105 b three times. However, if the user allows the screen shown inFIG. 6 to display to the display unit 105 a and selects the “attributeordered list data display”, the attribute ordered list data dt32 shownin FIG. 16 is generated by the control unit 101 and the job names aredisplayed to the display unit 105 a in a reverse order of the writingorder. Therefore, the user can find the job name “BBB” without pushingthe arrow button btn2 of the operation unit 105 b even once. As theresult, the printer 300 can quickly execute printing based on the printdata 401.

Also, similar to what is explained in FIG. 10, the control unit 101 inthe present variation displays, to the display unit 105 a, the job namesof the print data 401 stored in the storage unit 104 by limiting to thejob names which correspond to the predetermined attribute information.That is, the control unit 101 according to the present variation allowsthe display unit 105 a to display only the job names which correspond tothe readout order inputted to the operation unit 105 b from the user.Here, in the case where the readout order inputted to the operation unit105 b, for example, has a range from first to third and there is aplurality of job names corresponding to the orders, the control unit 101displays the job names in a reverse order of the readout order.

Thus, also in the present variation, the job names of the print data 401stored in the storage unit 104, according to an operation by a user, aredisplayed, to the display unit 105 a, by limiting to the job namescorresponding to the readout order designated by the user. Therefore,the user can more easily find a print data 401 stored in the printer 300by looking at the display unit 105 a and allows the printer 300 toquickly execute printing based on the print data 401.

(Variation 4)

Here, the variation 4 concerning the attribute information is explained.

The control unit 101 in the present variation determines an identifierfor identifying the print data 401 of the print data 401 as anattribute.

That is, the control unit 101, in a process of generating the attributeinformation at Step S102 shown in FIG. 4, generates attributeinformation indicating the identifier by searching the identifier amongthe print data 401 instead of executing the procedure of generating theattribute information in the writing order shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart indicating a detailed operation by the controlunit 101 for generating the attribute information indicating theidentifier.

Firstly, the control unit 101 searches, for example, a name of a creatorof the print data among the print data 401 as an identifier (Step S190).Here, the identifier to be searched can be the name of the print data401, the date when the print data 401 is generated, the date when aprinting is performed using the print data 401, a program name used forgenerating the print data 401 and the like.

The control unit 101 then reads out the identifier applied to theretrieval result and generates the attribute information indicating theidentifier (Step S192).

By the way, when the creator's name is readout at Step S192, if thereadout name is same as a name of a creator of the attribute informationwhich has already written in the storage unit 104, the control unit 101may process the readout creator's name to make it differ from thecreator's name which has been written already and generate the attributeinformation indicating the processed creator's name.

Further, the control unit 101 in the present variation, according to asignal outputted from the operation unit 105 b, allows the display unit105 a to display job names of each attributed print job 104 a stored inthe storage unit 104 in an ascending order of the job numbers or allowsthe display unit 105 a to display job names of each attributed print job104 a in order of an alphabet of fifty phonetic sounds of the creator'snames.

Specifically, the control unit 101 obtains the list display instructionsignal from the operation unit 105 b and reads out the job name, thecreator's name indicated in the attribute information, and the job namerespectively from each attributed print job 104 a stored in the storageunit 104. The control unit 101 then generates list data by arranging thejob number, the creator's name and the job name for the readoutattributed print job 104 a in a descending order of the job numbers. Thecontrol unit 101 which generated the list data outputs the list data tothe display unit 105 a and allows the display unit 105 a to display eachjob name in the arrangement order.

Further, the control unit 101 obtains the attribute ordered instructionsignal from the operation unit 105 b and reads out the job name, thecreator's name indicated in the attribute information, and the job namerespectively from each attributed print job 104 a stored in the storageunit 104. The control unit 101 then generates an attribute ordered listdata by arranging the job number, the creator's name, and the job namefor each readout attributed print job 104 a in order of the alphabet offifty phonetic sounds of the creators' names. The control unit 101 whichhas generated the attribute ordered list data outputs the attributeordered list data to the display unit 105 a and allows the display unit105 a to display each job name in the arrangement order.

FIG. 18 is a data content display diagram showing contents includedrespectively in the list data and the attribute ordered list dataaccording to the present variation.

A list data dt41 has a job number column E1 in which job numbers arestored, a creator's name column E2 in which creators' names are stored,and a job name column E3 in which job names are stored.

The control unit 101 stores i), into, the job number column E1 the jobnumbers readout from the storage unit 104 by arranging them in anascending order from the top, ii) the names of the creators which arethe attribute information readout from the storage unit 104 into thecreator's name column E2 by associating with the corresponding jobnumbers, and iii) the job names readout from the storage unit 104 intothe job name column E3 by associating with the corresponding jobnumbers.

The attribute ordered list data dt42, similar to the list data dt41, hasa job number column E4 in which job numbers are stored, a creator's namecolumn E5 in which creators' names are stored, and a job name column 6in which job names are stored.

The control unit 101 arranges a set of the job number, the creator'sname which is attribute information, and the job name for eachattributed print job 104 a read out from the storage unit 104 in orderof the alphabet of fifty phonetic sounds of creators' names. The controlunit then stores each job number into the job number column E4, eachcreator's name into the creator's name column E5 and each job name intothe job name column E6 in the arrangement order.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the job names of all pieces ofprint data 401 stored in the storage unit 104 are displayed to thedisplay unit 105 a by being arranged not only in order set by default,but also in order of an alphabet of fifty phonetic sounds of creators'names. Therefore, the user can easily find the print data 401 stored inthe printer 300 by looking at the display unit 105 a and allows theprinter 300 to quickly execute printing based on the print data 401.

For example, when a user tries to execute printing based on the printdata 401 whose job name is “AAD”, if the user allows the screen shown inFIG. 6 to display to the display unit 105 a and selects the “list datadisplay”, the list data dt41 shown in FIG. 18 is generated by thecontrol unit 101 and the job names are displayed to the display unit 105a in order of the job numbers. Therefore, the user cannot find the jobname “AAD” unless pushing the arrow button btn2 of the operation unit105 b five times. However, if the user allows the screen shown in FIG. 6to display to the display unit 105 a and selects the “attribute orderedlist data display”, the attribute ordered list data dt42 shown in FIG.18 is generated by the control unit 101 and the job names are displayedto the display unit 105 a in order of an alphabet of fifty phoneticsounds of creators' names. Therefore, the user can find the job name byonly pushing the arrow button btn2 of the operation unit 105 b twice. Asthe result, the printer 300 can quickly execute the printing based onthe print data 401 whose job name is “AAD”.

Further, also in the present variation, the control unit 101, similar towhat is explained in FIG. 10, allows the display unit 105 a to displaythe job names of the print data 401 stored in the storage unit 104 bylimiting to the job names which correspond to the predeterminedattribute information. That is, the control unit 101 in the presentvariation allows the display unit 105 a to display only job names whichcorrespond to the creators' names inputted to the operation unit 105 bythe user.

That is, when a menu button btn1 of the operation unit 105 b is operatedwhile the display unit 105 a is displaying the list of the job names inorder of the alphabet of fifty phonetic sounds of creators' names, thecontrol unit 101, based on the signal outputted from the operation unit105 b, allows the display unit 105 a to display a refine inquiry screenfor inquiring whether or not refine the display of the attribute orderedlist data dt42. Then, if the user inputs, to the operation unit 105 b,an instruction to refine, the control unit 101 allows the display unit105 a to display only job names corresponding to the predeterminedcreators' names.

FIG. 19 is an illustration for explaining screen displays of the displayunit 105 a when the refinement according to the present variation isperformed.

Firstly, the control unit 101, as shown in FIG. 19( a), allows thedisplay unit 105 a to display a refine inquiry screen for inquiring auser about whether or not refine the job names to be displayed. Here,the user operates the arrow buttons btn2 and btn3 of the operation unit105 b and “Yes” is reverse-displayed. When the execution button btn4 isoperated, the control unit 101, as shown in FIG. 19( b), allows thedisplay unit 105 a to display a selection screen for selecting acreator's name. Here, when the user selects the name of the creator“Tanaka” by operating the operation unit 105 b, the control unit 101, asshown in FIG. 19( c), allows the display unit 105 a to display the jobname which corresponds to the name of the creator “Tanaka”. Here, whenthere is a plurality of job names which corresponds to a selectedcreator's name by the operation unit 105 b, the control unit 101displays the job names in an ascending order of the job numbers.

Thus, in the present variation, according to the operation by the user,the job names of the print data 401 stored in the storage unit 104 aredisplayed to the display unit 105 a by limiting to the job names whichcorrespond to the creators' names designated by the user. Therefore, theuser can more easily find the print data 401 stored in the printer 300by looking at the display unit 105 a and allows the printer 300 toquickly execute printing based on the print data 401.

Here, in the present variation, the control unit 101 searches andspecifies an identifier among the print data 401. However, the controlunit 101 may specify the identifier based on a notice from the hostcomputer 400. In this case, the host computer 400 i) displays anidentifier input screen which urges a user to input the identifierbefore sending the print data 401, and ii) inputs information indicatingan identifier and the print data 401 to the print control device 100when the identifier is inputted on the identifier input screen. Thecontrol unit 101 of the print control device 100 obtains the informationindicating the identifier via the I/F unit 106 and generates theattribute information indicating the identifier. Furthermore, in thiscase, a password of the user may be used as the identifier.

(Variation 5)

Here, the variation 5 concerning a display method of each job name isexplained.

The display unit 105 a according to the present variation displays, whenthe amount of characters of one job name is too many to display thewhole in a display area, characters from the back of the characterstring included in the job name as much as the amount which can be fitin the display area.

FIG. 20 is an illustration for explaining a display method for thedisplay unit 105 a in the present variation to display the job name.

In general, the job name of each print data 401 is likely to includecommon characters in the beginning of each job name, for example, anapplication name and the like, the user cannot distinguish each job namewhen only the characters in the beginning are displayed to the displayunit 105 a.

FIG. 20( a) is an example diagram showing an example which onlycharacters in the beginning of the job name are displayed in the casewhere a space of 20 characters across is assigned to the display area inwhich the job name is shown (inside the solid frame in the diagram).

In such display area, if the front 20 characters respectively includedthe job name “MicrosiftWorbABCDEFGHIJK123456789” and the job name“MicrosiftWorbABCDEFGHIJK123498765” are displayed, both job names aredisplayed in same character strings (“MicrosiftWorbABCDEFG”) so that theuser cannot distinguish each job name.

Consequently, the display unit 105 b in the present variation displaysthe characters in the latter part of the job name as described above sothat a user can distinguish each job name.

FIG. 20( b) is an example diagram showing an example that the displayunit 105 a displays latter part of characters of the job name accordingto the present variation.

As shown in FIG. 20( b), the display unit 105 a displays the latter partof the characters of the job name in priority. Each job name isdisplayed respectively as “ABCDEFGHIJK123456789” and“ABCDEFGHIJK123498765”. As the result, the user can easily distinguisheach job name.

Also, instead of displaying the latter characters of each job name asdescribed above, an identification number is assigned to the top of eachjob name and allows the display unit 105 a to display the identificationnumber and the job name of the latter characters.

FIG. 21 is an example diagram showing an example which the job name isdisplayed by assigning the identification number.

As shown in FIG. 21, the display unit 502 a assigns identificationnumber to each job name and displays “1MicrosiftWorbABCDEF” and“2MicrosiftWorbABCDEF”. Therefore, the user can easily distinguish eachjob name.

Thereof, the printer according to the present invention is explainedusing the present embodiment and its variations 1 to 4. However, thepresent invention does not limit to those examples.

For example, in the present embodiment and its variations 1 to 4, thecontrol unit 101 assigns a job number which is a continuous number insequence starting from 1 to each attributed print job 104 a. However,job numbers which are not continuous but includes missing numbers may beassigned.

Also, in the present embodiment and its variations 1 to 4, the controlunit 101 reads out the job name from the attributed print job 104 astored in the storage unit 104 and allows the display unit 105 a todisplay the readout job name. However, unless it is the information thatcan identify the print data 401, the information may be readout from theattributed print job 104 a and displayed to the displayed unit 105 a.

Further, in the present embodiment and its variations 1 to 4, thecontrol unit 101 generates the attributed print job 104 a by addingsingle attribute information to single print data 401. However, thecontrol unit 101 may generate the attributed print job 104 a by addingvarious pieces of attribute information to one print data 401.

That is, the control unit 101 generates the attributed print job 104 aby adding, to single print data 401, at least two of the first attributeinformation indicating the writing order, the second attributeinformation indicating the page numbers, the third attribute informationindicating the readout times, the fourth attribute informationindicating the readout order, and the fifth attribute informationindicating the creator's name.

Then, the control unit 101, when it allows the display unit 105 a todisplay the list of job names, i) inquires a user via the display unit105 a about in which order of the first to fifth attribute informationin response to the attribute information to display the job name, ii)next generates the attribute ordered list data according to theattribute information in an order specified by the user and allows thedisplay unit 105 a to display the job name based on the data.Accordingly, the user can more easily find the desired print data 401and execute printing based on the print data 401. Also, it can improveoperability and usability of users.

Further, in the present embodiment and its variations 1 to 4, as anattribute shown in the attribute information, a writing order, thenumber of pages, the readout times, a readout order, and an identifiersuch as creator's name. It is needless to say that other contents may bethe attributes.

Furthermore, the display unit 105 in the present embodiment and thevariations 1 to 4 may have a function of displaying non-ASCII charactersuch as Japanese by converting a nickname composed of the ASCIIcharacter. Consequently, the display unit 105 a can display, even in thecase where non-ASCII character cannot be displayed, the job nameincluding the non-ACSII character such as Japanese by converting to anappropriate ASCII character.

Also, in the present embodiment and the variations 1 to 5, as for amemory print function, the print data 401 used for printing is stored inthe storage unit 104 without deleting it in a format of the attributedprint data 104 a for later printing. However, the print data 401 whichhas not used for printing may be stored to use later for printing. Insuch case, the host computer 400 outputs, when transmitting the printdata 401, together with the memory execution signal, a print reservationsignal that instructs not to immediately execute the printing based onthe print data 401.

The control unit 101 of the print control device 100 which obtains theprint reservation signal only executes generating the attributed printdata 104 and writing in the storage unit without immediately executingthe printing based on the print data 401 obtained from the host computer400.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The print control device according to the present invention makes asearch of stored print data easy and is applicable to a printer having amemory print function and the like.

1. A print control apparatus that performs print processing for printingby controlling a printer engine in a printer which prints data contentsbased on print data indicating the contents to be printed, comprising: adata generation unit operable to i) obtain the print data from outsidethe print control apparatus, and ii) generate print data with attributesby adding, to the print data, attribute information generated for theprint data by the print control apparatus and indicating attributes ofthe print processing performed by the print control apparatus; a storageunit in which the print data with the attributes is stored; a writingunit operable to write, into the storage unit, the print data with theattributes generated by the data generation unit; an arrangement displayunit operable to arrange and display, based on an operation by a user,print processing names included in the print data, each print processingname corresponding to one of a plurality of the print data with anattribute stored in the storage unit in an order according to theattribute information included in the plurality of print data with theattributes, each print processing name being a name included in andindicating the print data; and a print execution unit operable to i)allow one of the print processing names displayed on the arrangementdisplay unit to be selected by the user, and ii) cause the printerengine to execute printing based on the print data of the print datawith the attribute including the selected print processing name.
 2. Theprint control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arrangementdisplay unit displays the print processing name included in each printdata corresponding to the one of the plurality of print data with theattribute to which the attribute information selected by the userbelongs.
 3. The print control apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe data generation unit adds, to the print data, an order in which theprint control apparatus writes through the writing unit the generatedprint data with an attribute into the storage unit, as the attributeinformation.
 4. The print control apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the data generation unit extracts, from the print data,information with which data other than the print data is recognized, asan identifier, and the data generation unit adds, to the print data, theidentifier as the attribute information.
 5. The print control apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein the data generation unit i) extracts, asthe identifier, information indicating a creator's name of the printdata, and ii) uses the information indicating the creator's name as theattribute information.
 6. The print control apparatus according to claim5, wherein the arrangement display unit arranges and displays the printprocessing name included in the print data corresponding to the one ofthe plurality of print data in an order of fifty phonetic characters ofthe creator's name included, as the attribute information, in each ofthe plurality of print data with the attribute.
 7. The print controlapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control apparatususes, and the attribute information, the number of pieces of paperrequired when the printer engine executes printing based on the printdata, and the data generation unit adds the attribute information to theprint data.
 8. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe data generation unit adds, to the print data, information indicatingthe number of times a piece of print data is read out from the storageunit, as the attribute information, and the print control apparatusupdates, when the print data is read out from the storage unit for theprinting by the print execution unit, contents of the attributeinformation added to the print data to a value associated with thenumber of times the print data has been read out.
 9. The print controlapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data generation unit adds,to each print data, information indicating an order in which the printdata is read out from the storage unit, as the attribute information,and the print control apparatus updates, when the print data is read outfrom the storage unit for the printing by the print execution unit,contents of the attribute information added to the print data to a valueassociated with an order in which the print data is read out from thestorage unit.
 10. The print control apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the data generation unit adds, to the print data, and order inwhich the print control apparatus writes, through the writing unit, thegenerated print data with the attribute into the storage unit, as theattribute information.
 11. The print control apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the arrangement display unit preferentially displays acharacter located in a latter part of a character string representingthe print processing name.
 12. A print control method for performingprint processing for printing by controlling a printer engine in aprinter which prints data contents based on print data indicating thecontents to be printed, comprising: a data generation step of obtainingthe print data, and generating print data with attributes by adding, tothe print data, attribute information generated for the print data by aprint control apparatus and indicating the attributes of the printprocessing performed by the print control apparatus; a writing step ofwriting, into a memory, the print data with the attributes generated inthe data generation step; an arrangement display step of arranging anddisplaying, based on a operation by a user, print processing namesincluded in each print data, each print processing name corresponding toone of a plurality of print data with an attribute stored in the memoryin an order according to the attribute information included in theplurality of print data with the attributes, the print processing namebeing a name included in and indicating the print; and a print executionstep of (i) allowing the selection of one of the print processing namesdisplayed in the arrangement display step by a user and (ii) causing theprinter engine to execute printing based on the print data of the printdata with the attribute including the selected print processing name.13. The print control method according to claim 12, wherein in thearrangement display step, the print processing name including in eachprint data corresponding to the one of the plurality of print data withthe attribute to which the attribute information selected by the userbelongs to displayed.
 14. The print control method according to claim13, wherein in the data generation step, an order in which the generatedprint data with the attribute generated is written into the memory inthe writing step is added to the print data as the attributeinformation.
 15. The print control method according to claim 12, whereininformation with which print data other than the print data isrecognized by the user is extracted from the print data an identifier,and in the data generation step, the identifier is added to the printdata as the attribute information.
 16. The print control methodaccording to claim 12, wherein in the data generation step, the numberof pieces of paper required when the printer engine executes printingbased on the printing data is used as the attribute information, and theattribute information is added to the print data.
 17. The print controlmethod according to claim 12, wherein in the data generation step,indicating the number of times a piece of print data is read out fromthe memory is added to the print data as the attribute information and,contents of the attribute information added to the print data is updatedto a value associated with the number of times the print data has beenread out when the print data is read out from the memory for theprinting in the print execution step.
 18. The print control methodaccording to claim 12, wherein in the data generation step, informationindicating an order in which the print data is read out from the memoryis added to each print data as the attribute information, and contentsof the attribute information added to the print data are updated to avalue associated with the order in which the print data is read out fromthe memory when the print data is read out from the memory for theprinting in the print execution step.
 19. The print control methodaccording to claim 12, wherein in the data generation step, an order inwhich the print data with the attribute information is written into thememory in the writing step is added to the print data as the attributeinformation.
 20. The print control method according to claim 12, whereinin the arrangement display step, a character located in a latter part ofa character string representing the print processing name ispreferentially displayed.
 21. A computer program stored on acomputer-readable medium for causing a computer to perform printprocessing for printing by controlling a printer engine in a printerwhich prints data contents based on print data indicating the contentsto be printed, the computer program causing a computer to execute; adata generation step of obtaining the print data, and generating printdata with attributes by adding, to the print data, attribute informationgenerated for the print data by a print control apparatus and indicatingthe attributes of the print processing performed by the print controlapparatus; a writing step of writing, into a memory, the print data withthe attributes generated in the data generation step; an arrangementdisplay step of arranging and displaying, based on an operation by auser, print processing names included in each print data, each printprocessing name corresponding to one of a plurality of the print datawith an attribute stored in the memory in an order according toattribute information included in the plurality of the print data withthe attributes, the print processing name being a name included in andindicating the print data; and a print execution step of (i) allowingthe print processing names displayed in the arrangement display step tobe selected by a user and (ii) causing the printer engine to executeprinting based on the print data of the print data with the attributeincluding the selected print processing name.
 22. The computer programaccording to claim 21, wherein in the arrangement display step, theprint processing name included in each print data corresponding to theone of the plurality of print data with the attribute to which theattribute information selected by the user belongs is displayed.
 23. Thecomputer program according to claim 21, wherein in the data generationstep, an order in which the generated print data with the attribute iswritten into the memory in the writing step, is added to the print dataas the attribute information.
 24. A printer comprising a printer enginewhich prints data contents based on print data indicating the contentsto be printed and a print control apparatus which performs printprocessing for printing by controlling the printer engine, wherein theprint control apparatus includes; a data generation unit operable to i)obtain the print data from outside the print control apparatus and ii)generate print data with attributes by adding, to the print data,attribute information generated for the print data by the print controlapparatus and indicating the attributes of the print processingperformed by the print control apparatus; a storage unit in which theprint data with the attributes is stored; a writing unit operable towrite, into the storage unit, the print data with the attributesgenerated by the data generation unit; an arrangement display unitoperable to arrange and display, based on an operation by a user,processing names included in each print data corresponding to one of aplurality of print data with an attribute stored in the storage unit inan order according to the attribute information included in theplurality of print data with the attributes, each print processing namebeing a name included in and indicating the print data; and a printexecution unit operable to i) allow a user to select one of the printprocessing names displayed on the arrangement display unit, and ii)cause the printer engine to execute printing based on the print data ofthe print data with the attribute including the selected printprocessing name.
 25. The printer according to claim 24, wherein thearrangement display unit displays the print processing name included ineach print data corresponding to the one of the plurality of print datawith the attribute to which the attribute information specified by theuser belongs.
 26. The printer according to claim 24, wherein the datageneration unit adds, to the print data, an order in which the printdata with the attribute into the storage unit, as the attributeinformation.